Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT) Practice Exam

In the context of evaluating a pacemaker tracing, understanding the components that are typically assessed is essential for proper analysis. The presence of atrial and/or ventricular spikes is crucial as these spikes indicate the pacemaker's activity and its ability to stimulate the heart's chambers. Additionally, evaluating the chamber depolarization characteristics is vital as it provides insight into how well the heart's chambers are responding to the pacemaker's impulses. The AV delay is also significant because it helps assess the timing between atrial and ventricular contractions, ensuring efficient heart function.

In contrast, the QT interval is not a specific component evaluated in the context of pacemaker tracings. The QT interval measures the time it takes for the heart's electrical system to depolarize and repolarize the ventricles, which is primarily relevant in the context of assessing bradycardia or arrhythmias rather than the function of a pacemaker. Hence, it is not part of the evaluation criteria specific to pacemaker functionality.